With the intention of providing an alternative, technically appropriate to small-holders, a prototype of horizontal plate meter with two seed outlets for corn and beans was designed and built that will later be incorporated into a small planter that meets the needs of family farming. The metering mechanism incorporated components available in the market of spare parts for various brands of meters. Usual manufacturing processes were employed, established within tolerance grades which allow for the manufacture in small metalworking companies. The final prototype was tested for metering and assembly / disassembly, then compared with performance of similar commercial metering also with two outlets, but with larger diameter disc. The prototype’s performance was similar to that of comparable commercial meter, indicating the feasibility of its use in the design of a precision seeder for small holders.
metering accuracy; mechanization; family farming
